Dates:
29 March 1891 to 31 July 1917
War Service:
Second Lieutenant Arthur Henry Woodrooffe, 10th Battalion, (Queen’s Own) Royal West Kent Regiment, was killed in action on the 31st July 1917, aged 26. He had previously served with the 4th London Howitzer Brigade, Royal Field Artillery between 1909 and 1913. In January 1915 he enlisted into the Army Pay Corps and had attained the rank of Acting Sergeant by the time that he was accepted for a commission. On applying for a commission he stated his preference to be posted to an artillery regiment, but ended up being posted to the infantry (his third choice).
The telegram sent to his father at Brownhill Road read “Regret to inform you 2lt A H Woodroffe Royal West Kent Regt reported missing August first. This does not necessarily mean he is either killed or wounded. Any further reports sent immediately received”. This was soon followed by a telegram reading “Regret to inform you 2lt A H Woodroffe Royal West Kent Regt previously reported missing August first is now reported killed in action July thirty first. The army council express their sympathy”. His service record is annotated: “We have no record of this officer’s body having been recovered”.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Location of Memorial:
He is remembered on the WW1 Roll of Honour in St Andrew's Church, Catford.
Details:
He was born on the 29th March 1891, the son of Henry and Sarah Woodrooffe of 318 Brownhill Road, Catford. He was educated at the Bellenden Road School, East Dulwich and prior to the war he was employed as a tea buyer’s assistant.
Contributed By: Kevin Loughnane
Do you have more information on this person or the memorial they are commemorated on? If so click here to contribute information.
by Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
